Locking device for lock components in/on vehicles

ABSTRACT

A locking device for lock components, for example on vehicles, with two rotary closures which are arranged at a distance from one another and are connected by means of a mechanical transmission element to form a synchronously rotating closure unit and which interact with two catch bolts assigned to the two rotary closures, each located in a housing having an orifice adapted to receive the catch bolts. The two rotary closures of the closure unit, in their release position, are each blocked by means of an associated control member against rotation into locking engagement with the associated catch bolt. The control members are movable into an unblocked position in response to penetration of the catch bolts into the orifice of the housing, and the locking advance of the rotary closures is permitted only after both catch bolts have penetrated fully into the orifice in the housing.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locking device for lock components inor on vehicles, of the type having at least two closure elements locatedin spaced separation from one another and coupled to a control operatingmechanism such as a lock cylinder. Locking devices of this general typeare known to the art, as illustrated for example by GermanOffenlegungsschrift 3,642,242, which discloses a locking device adaptedfor two-point locking of doors, hoods or tailgates of vehicles,utilizing rotary-latch closures of the fork type conventional on vehicledoors. With the lock component opened, the rotary latch closures areheld in their release position under a spring load. When the lockcomponent is shut, the latch closures are rotated into their lockingposition by running with one fork end onto the associated catch bolt ofthe counter-component. In their locking position, the latch closures areblocked against pivoting by means of an automatic detent mechanism, sothat the catch bolts, surrounded by their rotary-latch fork, are held intheir closing position

However, when the lock component is shut, the desired two-point lockingis obtained only when the catch bolts strike virtually simultaneouslyagainst the corresponding forked rotary latches. If one of the catchbolts has too great a lead in relation to the other catch bolt, thecatch bolt which first strikes its associated closure unit is rotatedinto its locking position without the associated forked rotary latchbeing capable of surrounding the second catch bolt as well. As a result,although both forked rotary latches are in their locking position, thereis only a one-point locking of the lock component. The security of thelock component with single-point locking is even lower than inconventional lock components having only one locking point, but arrangedcentrally.

The known locking device is therefore suitable only for extremelytorsion-resistant lock components which interact with a likewisetorsion-resistant counter-component.

Furthermore, it is also known to use individual rotary closures oncommercial ski carriers, wherein pivotably fastened shackles of the skicarrier can be locked only when they have also reached their closingposition. As a control member there is a detent lever, by means of whichthe rotary closure designed as a closure hook is blocked againstpivoting into its release position. The detent lever articulated on theclosure housing is held in its blocking position by means of a tensionspring connecting it to the closure hook. At the same time, alongitudinal portion of the detent lever projects into an end region ofa latch orifice of the closure housing so that it is pivoted by thepenetration of the catch bolt into the latch orifice. When the endposition of the catch bolt in the latch orifice is reached, the detentlever is pivoted to such an extent that the rotary closure is releasedto advance into its locked position. At this moment, the prestressedtension spring automatically draws the rotary closure into its lockingposition. A core of a lock cylinder corotated by the rotary closuresnapping shut is thereby transferred into its key withdrawal position,after which the one-point locking of the shackle can be secured simplyby withdrawing the key.

One object of the present invention is to provide a locking device ofthe generic type described above, having the additional feature thatduring the locking of the closure unit by the associated catch bolts, atwo-point locking of the lock component can be ensured largelyindependently of the torsional stability of the lock component or of thecounter-component.

This object is achieved in a locking device according to the presentinvention by providing a separate sequence control for each of the tworotary closures of the closure unit. If, during the closing of the lockcomponent, one of the two catch bolts has not reached its lockable endposition, each of the rotary closure elements remains blocked in itsrelease position. Although the other rotary closure is no longer blockedby its associated control member, it is held in the release position asa result of its rotational coupling to the other, still blocked, rotaryclosure. One-point locking of the locking device is thus preventedcompletely.

In an especially simple embodiment of the invention, each control memberconsists of a detent lever which is mounted pivotably on a closurehousing and which interacts directly in a manner that is known per sewith a rotary closure designed as a closure hook. However, because oftheir spring loading in the locking direction, such snap closures cannotbe unlocked simply by tripping, but require a separate rotary drive,such as key operation of a lock cylinder, the cylinder core beingrotationally coupled to the closure unit. Moreover, the locking positionof the closure unit can be secured additionally via the lock cylinderwhen there is an appropriate key withdrawal position.

A restriction to a single key withdrawal position available in thelocking position of the closure unit simplifies the operation of thelocking device, since, with the key withdrawn, a locking of the lockcomponent is always assured.

If a rotary closure is located with its end face opposite an accessiblehousing shell of the lock component at not too great a distance, thelock cylinder can be set into the wall surface and, being arrangedcoaxially relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary closure, can berotationally coupled directly thereto. To allow a completely countersunkinstalled position of the lock cylinder despite the location of therotary closure near the housing shell, the cylinder core can beconnected to the rotary closure at the head end equipped with the keyinsertion orifice, all space-saving types of driving connections beingpossible for the rotational connection.

The advantage of this design is that the necessary length of thetransmission element between the rotary closures can be reduced by thelength of the cylinder housing. If the transmission element consists ofa torsion-resistant hollow shaft or the like, such a reduction of thelength of the transmission element can lead to an appreciable weightsaving.

The locking device according to the present invention has provedespecially advantageous in conjunction with a lightweight tubular frameas a lock component. It is particularly suitable as a locking device fora tilting frame of a load carrier which, for example, may be attached toa trunk lid of a motor vehicle. Tilting frames of this type make itpossible to open the trunk lid when the tilting frame is swung upwhilst, with the boot lid closed, the tilting frame, in its closingposition, must be locked securely with a basic frame of the loadcarrier.

If the two individual closures of the tilting frame which are known, forexample, from German Utility Model 8616177.6 are replaced by the lockingdevice, the tilting frame can be operating from a side of the vehicle.Since trunk-loading activities often have to take place in a trafficflow, the gain in safety achieved by means of the locking device isconsiderable.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of a load carrier equipped with alocking device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a rotary closure of the locking device inthe locked state; and

FIG. 3 shows the side view according to FIG. 2 with the rotary closurein the unlocked state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional view of a load carrier 1 which can bemounted on a trunk lid (not shown) of an automobile, especially aconvertible, and which is suitable for, among other things, thetransport of skis and the like.

So that the trunk space remains accessible even when skis or otherarticles of luggage projecting far forwards are transported on the loadcarrier 1, only the lower basic frame 2 of the load carrier 1 isconnected firmly to the trunk lid, whilst the article to be transportedcan be fastened to a tilting frame 3 located above it.

The basic frame 2 and tilting frame 3 are respectively rectangularlightweight frames which consist of aluminum tubes. The width of thebasic frame 2 corresponds here approximately to the width of theassociated trunk lid, whilst the width of the tilting frame 3 is matchedto the rear width of the automobile.

In the rear corner region of the basic frame 2, the tilting frame 3 isarticulated on the basic frame 2 via a hinge bearing 4 on each of thetwo sides. The pivot axis defined by the two hinge bearings 4 extendsessentially horizontally in the direction of the width of the vehicle,so that the tilting frame 3 can be swung up rearwards out of itsillustrated position of rest in the opposite direction to the trunk lidpivotably fastened to the body at the front.

So that the tilting frame 3 can be fixed securely in its position ofrest to the basic frame 2, between these there is provided a lockingdevice which has two rotary closures 5 and two associated catch bolts 6interacting with the rotary closures 5. Here, the rotary closures 5 arearranged in the front corner regions on the basic frame 2, while thecatch bolts 6 are arranged on the titling frame 3. The rotary closures 5could likewise be arranged on the tilting frame 3 and the catch bolts 6on the basic frame 2.

The mirror-symmetrical rotary closures 5 are each mounted in a closurehousing 7, 8 consisting of two housing shells 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b which aredivided in parallel with the plane of rotation of the rotary closures 5and which are connected to one another. Closure housings 7 and 8 whichare identical in terms of their external dimensions are screwed oppositeone another to the outer surfaces of the longitudinal tubes 2a of thebasic frame. An upwardly directed latch orifice 9 is provided in each ofthe closure housings 7 and 8, located above the longitudinal tubes 2a sothat catch bolts 6, projecting from the longitudinal tubes 3a of thetilting frame 3 towards the centre of the load carrier, penetrate intothe latch orifice 9 during the closing advance of tilting frame 3.Moreover, the closure housings 7 and 8 project downwards relative to theassociated longitudinal tube 2a at least to a point below that housing 8covers an orifice at the right hand end of transverse tube 2b, as shownin FIG. 1, and the housing 7 surrounds an orifice at the left hand endof transverse tube 2b (FIGS. 2 and 3) through which the two closurehousings 7 and 8 are connected to one another. In this manner, access tothe openings at either end of transverse tube 2b can be blocked by theclosure housings 7 and 8 so as to prevent tampering. However, in theembodiment depicted in FIG. 1, an operating orifice through the exteriorsurface of closure housing 7 is provided as a through opening to permitaccess to lock cylinder 12, as described below. The transverse tube 2bbelongs to the basic frame 2 and is welded to the two longitudinal tubes2a.

The rotary closures 5 of the two closure housings 7 and 8 arerotationally coupled through the hollow cross-section of the transversetube 2b by means of a torsion-resistant hollow shaft 10. A left-hand endof the hollow shaft 10 is connected to the associated rotary closure 5via a cylinder core 11 of a lock cylinder 12, the cylinder core 11 beingmounted rotatably in a cylinder housing 13 in the conventional manner.Lock cylinder 12 is countersunk in an operating orifice 14 of theclosure housing 7 to such an extent that the rotary closure 5 throughwhich the cylinder core 11 passes is fixed axially between an end faceof the cylinder housing 13 located on the operating side and a thickenedhead of the cylinder core 11. The rotational connection between thecylinder core 11 and the rotary closure 5 is made via a drivingconnection 15. Since the cylinder housing 13 can be inserted with anexact fit into the end region of the transverse tube 2b, and since therotary closure 5 is also mounted via the cylinder core 11 of the lockcylinder 12, this necessarily provides a coaxial mounting of the rotaryclosure 5 in relation to the longitudinal mid-axis of the transversetube 2b. To ensure axial retention of the cylinder core 11 in relationto the cylinder housing 13, a square end 16 of cylinder care 11projecting from the cylinder housing 13 on the same side as the hollowshaft is supported relative to the end face of the cylinder housing 13by means of a retaining ring 17. To prevent the cylinder housing 13itself from being pulled out axially, there is a grub screw 18 which isscrewed through a lower bore in the transverse tube 2b into a blockingbore of the cylinder housing 13.

An end region of the hollow shaft 10 is slipped positively onto thesquare end 16, and the hollow shaft 10 can have a corresponding squarecross-section over its entire length. Alternatively, however, it is alsopossible to use a round hollow shaft 10 and design only its end portionsas a square.

The rotational mounting of the right-hand rotary closure 5 is based on asimilar concept, thereby ensuring its coaxial mounting in relation tothe corresponding rotary closure 5. For this purpose, the closurehousing 8 has a bearing sleeve 19 which is connected firmly to thelatter, and which can be inserted positively into the right-hand end ofthe transverse tube 2b. Mounted in the bearing sleeve 19 is a shaft stub20, onto the end face of which located in the closure housing 8 therotary closure 5 is fastened so as to bear on the wide side. Forsecuring the shaft stub 20 axially in the bearing sleeve 19, the shaftstub 20 has an annular collar 21 which is supported on that end face ofthe bearing sleeve 19 located on the same side as the hollow shaft.

Adjacent to the annular collar 21, the shaft stub 20 is also equippedwith a square end 16, by means of which a plug-in driving connectionwith the hollow shaft 10 is made.

To prevent the operating orifice 14 for the key actuation of the lockcylinder 12 from becoming soiled, the operating orifice 14 is covered bymeans of a sealing cap 22. This sealing cap 22 consisting of flexibleplastic is articulated above the operating orifice 14 in a bore of theouter shell of the closure housing 7 and engages positively into thebore of the operating orifice 14 in the manner of a plug by means of ashort annular shank projecting from its wide side. To operate the lockcylinder 12, the sealing cap 22 can be bent upwards by pulling on adownwardly projecting tab of the latter, the positive connection betweenthe annular shank and the operating orifice 14 being broken, and cansubsequently be pivoted in its covering plane, thereby exposing theoperating orifice 14.

So that the catch bolts 6 are secured free of rattling in the lockedstate, the latch orifices 9 of the two closure housing 7 and 8 have inthe lower end region elastomeric buffers 23 which are arranged adjacentto the plane of rotation of the rotary closures 5. When the catch bolts6 advance during the closing of the tilting frame 3, these buffers 23are compressed somewhat by catch bolts 6, and thereby ensure substantialfreedom from play of the locking action.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary closures 5 are made in the form ofclosure hooks having hook ends 5a which, in the locked state, hold theassociated catch bolt 6 down in its lower end position in the latchorifice 9, for which purpose the hook end 5a of the rotary closures 5engages over and blocks the latch orifice 9. The hook end 5a of therotary closures 5 is angled approximately tangentially in relation tothe axis of rotation of rotary closure 5, so that the main extension ofthe rotary closures 5 is from the latch orifice 9.

So that the locking advance of the rotary closures 5 does not have to beexerted by key rotation, the rotary closures 5 are designed as automaticsnap closures. For this purpose, articulated on each of the closurehousings 7 and 8 in the pivoting plane of the two rotary closures 5 is adetent lever 24, by means of which the associated rotary closure 5 isblocked against pivoting in its release position, as shown in FIG. 3.The detent lever 24 is pivotably connected to housing 7 at one end nextto the latch orifice 9 on the side opposite the rotary closure 5. Itsother end, designed as a control nose 24a or camming surface, is heldbearing under the prestress of a tension spring 25 against the narrowside of the associated rotary closure 5 facing the detent lever 24. Thenarrow side of the rotary closure 5 at the same time forms a controltrack which is sensed by the control nose 24a of the detent lever 24.For this purpose, starting from the lower narrow side of the hook end5a, it extends first obliquely downwards at an obtuse angle toapproximately half the pivoting length of the rotary closure 5 andthereafter merges, in an approximately right-angled arc 5b matched tothe engagement profile of the control nose 24a, into a further lengthregion which is located opposite the hook end.

Approximately in the middle of its longitudinal extension, the detentlever 24 has, on its narrow side facing away from the latch orifice 9, aprolongation 24b, on which one end of the tension spring 25 issuspended. The second end of the tension spring 25 is suspended on therotary closure 5 itself approximately even with the bottom of the latchorifice 9.

By virtue of the articulation conditions and the prestress of thelongitudinally stretched tension spring 25, as explained above, twostable end positions of the rotary closure 5 are defined by the detentlever 24. One such position corresponds to the locking state, and thesecond corresponds to the unlocking state of the rotary closure 5. Inthe locking state according to FIG. 2, the detent lever 24 is directedobliquely downwards and engages positively with its control nose 24ainto the arc matched to its contour and located on the narrow side ofthe rotary closure 5. The positive connection is maintained by the pullof the spring, since a breaking of the positive connection wouldnecessarily involve a more pronounced longitudinal stretching of thetension spring 25.

In the unlocking state according to FIG. 3, the detent lever 24 ispivoted upwards into a virtually horizontal position, passing throughapproximately half the height extent of the latch orifice 9. To allowthe detent lever 24 to assume this position, the rotary closure 5 mustbe pivoted through an angle of approximately 20 degrees in thecounterclockwise direction. Since tension spring 25, thereby extendingapproximately horizontally, exerts a dextrorotatory torque on the detentlever 24, the detent lever 24 is held bearing against the lower edge ofthe hook end of the rotary closure 5. Rotation of the rotary closure 5in the direction of the latch orifice 9 is no longer permitted by thedetent lever 24 in this position, since the rotary closure 5 buttsagainst the end of the control nose 24a before its hook end engages intothe latch orifice 9.

In contrast, a locking advance of the two rotary closures 5 is causedwhen the tilting frame 3 is swung down into its closing position. Thecatch bolts 6 penetrate into the latch orifice 9 of the closure housings7 and 8 strike the top edge of the detent levers 24 passing through thelatch orifice 9. As catch bolts 6 penetrate further into orifice 9, theydisplace detent levers 24, pivoting these too downwardly into the latchorifice 9. When the two catch bolts 6 reach their end position in theassociated latch orifice 9, the detent levers 24 of the two rotaryclosures 5 are simultaneously pivoted into their lower end position.Since that point of articulation of the tension spring 25 located on thedetent lever is thereby also pivoted, the rotary closures 5 snap intotheir locking position automatically under the pull of the spring.

If, however, when the tilting frame 3 is swung down, only one of the twocatch bolts 6 reaches its end position in the latch orifice 9, thenneither rotary closure 5 can pivot into its locking position. That is,although the two detent levers 24 have been pivoted to such an extentthat they no longer inhibit the rotation of the rotary closures,nevertheless, the hook end of the one rotary closure 5 strikes againstthe not yet completely penetrated catch bolt 6, thereby preventing itsclosure. Since the two rotary closures 5 are connected to form asynchronously rotationally coupled closure unit, the locking advance ofboth rotary closures 5 is consequently blocked. In this case, thetilting frame 3 has to be pressed down so that the second catch bolt 6also reaches its end position, after which the two rotary closures 5snap shut together.

It is possible to unlock the rotary closures 5 by key operation of thesingle lock cylinder 12, which is located on the front-seat passengerside of the automobile, and the cylinder core 11 of which isrotationally connected to the closure unit. This lock cylinder 12 hasonly a single key withdrawal position which is provided in the rotaryposition of the cylinder core 11 relative to the cylinder housing 13,with the closure unit locked, and in which, with the key withdrawn, amechanical interlock of the cylinder core 11 with the cylinder housing13 is ensured via tumblers. Thus, with the key withdrawn, there is alsoat the same time the guarantee that both rotary closures 5 are locked.

To unlock the closure unit, the key is inserted into the cylinder core11, after which the mechanical interlock with the cylinder housing 13 iscanceled. The closure unit can now be unlocked by rotating the keyapproximately 20 degrees in the counterclockwise direction. Since therotary position of the cylinder core 11 is maintained by means of theblocked release position of the rotary closures 5, the key cannot bewithdrawn. During the subsequent locking advance of the rotary closures5, the cylinder core 11 is once again corotated into its withdrawalposition, so that the key can be withdrawn without a closing rotation ofthe latter having to be carried out.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way ofillustration and example only, and is not to be taken as limiting theinvention. The spirit and scope of the present invention are limitedonly by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. Locking apparatus for lock component on a vehiclecomprising at least two rotary closures arranged in spaced separationfrom one another and connected by means of a mechanical transmissionelement to form a synchronously rotating closure unit, each of saidrotary closures having associated therewith a catch bolt arranged on acounter component and each of said rotary closures being adapted to moveinto locking engagement with said catch bolt in response to movement ofsaid catch bolt into a locking position during a closing movement ofsaid counter component,wherein each of said rotary closures also has acontrol member uniquely associated therewith, each of said controlmembers being movable between a blocked position in which said rotaryclosure is prevented from moving into locking engagement with said catchbolt, and an unblocked position in which said rotary closure ispermitted to move into locking engagement with said catch bolt, saidcontrol member being adapted to move from said blocked position to saidunblocked position in response to movement of said catch bolt into saidlocking position, wherein movement of said rotary closures into lockingengagement with said catch bolts is blocked until each of said catchbolts is moved into said locking position, wherein said rotary closuresconsist of closure hooks mounted pivotably in an associated closurehousing, each of said closure housings having a latch orifice for thepenetration of the corresponding catch bolt into said locking position,wherein said control member comprises a detent lever articulated on theclosure housing in the pivoting plane of each of the rotary closureswhereby said rotary closures are prevented from moving into lockingengagement with said catch bolts by being supported by one end of theassociated detent lever, said detent lever passing through an end regionof the latch orifice, and wherein said detent levers are caused to pivotcounter to a spring load during penetration of said catch bolts intosaid latch orifice, whereby, after the locking position of said catchbolts has been reached, said support of said detent levers on saidrotary closures in shifted to such an extent that said rotary closuresare pivotable into a locking position covering the latch orifice. 2.Locking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotary closure unitis rotationally coupled to a cylinder core of a lock cylinder. 3.Locking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lock cylinder has asingle key withdrawal position, which corresponds to the rotary positionof the cylinder core when said rotary closure unit is in said lockingposition.
 4. Locking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of saidrotary closures of said closure unit is arranged near an accessiblehousing shell of said lock component, wherein said lock cylinder isarranged in the housing shell in axis-parallel alignment with the axisof rotation of said rotary closure located near said shell, and whereinsaid cylinder core is coupled to said rotary closure.
 5. Lockingapparatus according to claim 4 wherein said lock cylinder is arrangedcoaxially relative to the axis of rotation of said rotary closurecoupled thereto, and wherein said cylinder core of said lock cylinder isconnected to said rotary closure via a driving connection.
 6. Lockingapparatus according to claim 5 wherein said lock cylinder is countersunkin the wall surface of said lock component, wherein said drivingconnection is provided between said cylinder core and said rotaryclosure at an operating end of said cylinder core projecting from acylinder housing, and wherein said cylinder core is connected at itsopposite end to said transmission element.
 7. Locking apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said rotaryclosures extend coaxially, and wherein said transmission elementconsists of a torsion-resistant hollow shaft.
 8. Locking apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said counter component comprises apivotably mounted tubular frame.
 9. Locking apparatus according to claim8 wherein said tubular frame is a tilting frame articulated on a basicframe, said basic frame being attachable as the base of a load carrierto a body of a vehicle.
 10. Locking apparatus according to claim 9wherein said basic frame of said load carrier can be fastened to a trunklid of a motor vehicle.